Pacelle: End cruel practice of using dogs to chase, tree bears

As of this writing, Californians are counting on the state Senate to give final approval to a proposed new law that would end an ugly chapter in California's management of wildlife — banning the practice of "hounding" and sparing bears, bobcats and dogs the torment and abuse associated with it.

Earlier last week, the Assembly passed SB 1221 to outlaw this inhumane, unsporting and high-tech practice of using dogs to chase bears and bobcats, sending the terrified animals up trees to be shot at point-blank range, or subjecting them to long chases and attacks from the dogs who relentlessly pursue the quarry.

Now the measure faces a final vote on the Senate floor to approve amendments, and then it will be sent to the governor. Ventura County's state senator, Tony Strickland, supported SB 1221 when it first came up in the Senate and his principled vote was crucial to its passage.

This straightforward bill would bring California's statutes in line with those of other states, where the hunting culture long ago turned its back on such an unacceptable practice.

Adherents of hounding release as many as 20 dogs, often fitted with radio transmitters on their collars, to chase, attack and corner a panting animal with the hope of allowing the shooter a static target.

There's no question that the final act of the hunt — where the hunter, following the signal emitting from the hounds' collars — mocks the notion of sportsmanship or fair chase. It's more of a high-tech killing than it is a fair-chase hunt.

Spokesmen for the hunting lobby claim that it's actually humane to shoot the cornered animal, since the hunter can just about guarantee a killing shot.

That's the same, weak rationale for shooting any kind of animal in a fenced enclosure in a captive hunt.

But what's worse is the run-up to that final, pathetic act — that's the chase and every bad thing that can and does happen.

The fall is a critical time in the bears' annual life cycle, where they feed constantly to build fat reserves for their long period of dormancy or hibernation through the winter.

But the houndsmen can chase the bears for hours on end, every day during the season, denying them time to feed and causing them to expend huge amounts of energy as they flee the dogs. There are no time limits on how long a bear can be chased.

Studies in professional wildlife management journals show that typical chases last for more than three hours and sometimes go as long as 12 hours.

The bears, with their large mass and heavy coats, overheat — and researchers note that this lengthy chase can even cause brain-stem damage. Bears can also become separated from their cubs during a lengthy chase.

Sometimes, the quarry will turn and fight the dogs. Just as dogfighting and cockfighting, this blood sport deserves no state sanction. The bear may be bigger, but he or she can be overwhelmed by the sheer number of dogs turned loose and attacking him or her. And the poor bobcats can be torn to pieces by dogs.

Just about all of us, at one time or another, have felt fear when encountering an aggressive dog, even if it's just lasted for a minute. Put yourself in the position of a bear or bobcat.

Imagine being chased and attacked by 20 dogs over a 12-hour period. What fear and anguish the creature must feel.

Is that not obviously and demonstrably inhumane?

Californians outlawed trophy hunting of mountain lions four decades ago, and they've affirmed that in two statewide votes, in part because packs of dogs were employed to chase and torment these noble animals.

It's time to outlaw the hounding of bears and bobcats, too.

Wayne Pacelle is president and CEO of The Humane Society of the United States.